Can-opening device



2 SheetsSheet 2 (No Model.) I

J. GLOVER. CAN OPENING DEVICE. No. 545,227. Patented Aug. 27,1895.

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CAN-OPENING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 54=5,22 7, dated August 27, 1895.

Application filed November 22, 1894; Serial No. 529,592. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JosEPH GLOVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gan-Opening Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices for opening sealed cans, and has for its object the production of a simple but efficient can-opener, possessing advantages in point of adjustability, cheapness of manufacture, durability, and usefulness.

The nature of my invention will appear from a reading of the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is an illustration of the application of my invention to a can. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a can and my improved opening device in the act of cutting. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improved can-opener. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line :0 a, Fig. 3; Fig. '7, a detail view of the cutter. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the hook.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A denotes the can having the top a, and B is my improved can-opening device,.which consists of the handle 0, cutter d, and hook 6. At the end opposite the handle is a punch f, which is employed for making the aperture in the center of the can-top for the hook e, which latter is L- shaped and has one end a pointed and screw-threaded and screwed into a threaded aperture g, said pointed end extending beyond the aperture to serve as a marker for centering the can. The other end e of'the hook enters the can through theaperture and serves to hold the device against displacement while in the act of opening the can.

711 is a hammer-head, which extends laterally from the device and may be employed for driving tacks and small nails. The punch may also be used as a screwdriver and tackpuller.

Referring now to the cutter, 2' is a bridge integral with the handle and having asquare aperture 1 to receive the shank d of the cutter, and c is a slot in one end of the handle to receive the cutter-blade (1 The cutter is thus capable of an adjustment to or from the hook, in order to vary the size of the opening to be made in the can-cover, and the adjustment is maintained by a set-screwj, which passes through the bridge and bears on the shank of the cutter, as shown. The shank of the cutter at the blade end is cut away to form a shoulder 01 which in the operation of centering the can engages the edge of the latter and co-operates with the pointed end a of the hook. The handle is marked into divisions, as shown, whereby the device may be used with the movable cutter as a gage for different-sized cans.

The cutter blade is convex on its outer side, and the cutting-edge is half-round in order that a clean cut may be made with a mini+ mum of labor. 7

Between the bridge portion and the end of the handle is a second slot 70, which is util ized in the opening of large-sized cans, inas much as the cutter can be reversed in position and the blade allowed to project through the second slot. In this manner the degree of adjustment is very large, and one device may be employed for opening any sized can. The change of position of the cutter may be quickly made, as it is merely necessary to loosen the thumb-screw, withdraw the shank from the bridge-aperture and insert it again from the opposite side, and again tighten the screw. The slot is may also serve as a convenient means for suspending the device on a nail when not in use.

Aside from the efficiency of the device as a can-opener the same may be used as a hammer, as a screwdriver, and as a convenient device for drawing tacks and the like. The feature of adj ustability also renders the employment of different-sized devices for differcut-sized cans unnecessary.

The device as a whole is neat, compact, and having few parts is not liable to disorder.

I claim as my inventionllO 1. In a can opener, the combination of a hook portion, a handle provided with two slots, a cutter holder between the slots, and a reversible cutter having a shank adapted to be adj us tably secured in said holder at either side thereof.

2. In a can opener of the class described,a handle having two slots and a bridge between the slots, having an aperture and a set screw, a cutter having a shank adapted to be passed through said aperture from either end, and a blade to project through either slot, and a hook in one end of the handle.

3. In a can opener of the class described, the combination with a handle having a slot, and a threaded aperture, a hook having a pointed end projecting beyond said aperture, and an adjustable cutter having a shoulder, and operating in connection with said pointed end substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a can opener the combination of a handle having divisional marks thereon, an adjustable cutter having a shoulder, a set screw for said cutter, and a point or marker operating with said adjustable shoulder for the purpose set forth.

5. A combined tool comprising a handle having at one end a punch, a hammer head, an aperture and a slot, and at its other end a second slot and a bridge between the slots having a set screw, a reversible cutter adjustably secured in said bridge and having a blade extending through either slot, and a hook portion engaging the aperture, all as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH GLOVER.

IVitnesses:

DAVID PATON, WILLIAM SHAW. 

